Red Sox give Carson Smith minor league deal and spring invite

Smith has not pitched a full season in the majors since 2015.

Righthanded reliever Carson Smith, who in May separated his shoulder throwing his glove at the bench and tried to blame manager Alex Cora, is returning to the Red Sox.

Smith agreed to a minor league contract last week that included an invitation to spring training. But the 29-year-old is still recovering from surgery and won’t be ready to pitch until later in the season.

Smith appeared in 18 games last season and had a 3.77 earned run average. On May 14, he allowed a home run by Oakland’s Khris Davis at Fenway Park, and when he returned to the dugout, he fired his glove at the bench and separated his shoulder. A day later, Smith suggested Cora also was at fault.